Packet for smoking articles

ABSTRACT

Packet for smoking articles, comprising an external shell and an internal shell to contain smoking articles. The external shell comprises an external containing body, a closing lid hinged to the internal shell and a connection tongue configured to connect the closing lid to the external containing body. Moreover, the internal shell is configured to slide, with respect to the external containing body, between a closed configuration where the internal shell is completely inserted inside the external shell, and an open and extracted configuration where the internal shell is partly extracted from the external containing body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a packet for smoking articles, such as,for example but not only, cigarettes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packets of the rigid type for cigarettes are known, with a hingedclosing lid, known as “hinged lid”. These are generally easy to producestarting from a conventional blank, that is, from a sheet of materialsuch as cardboard, paper or suchlike, suitably shaped and worked, andare easy and practical to use, protecting the cigarettes inside them.

Traditional cigarette packets have a rectangular parallelepiped shape,that extends along a longitudinal axis, and comprise a rigid externalshell defining an external containing body and a lid hinged to theexternal containing body by means of a hinge. In traditional packets,the closing lid remains completely outside the external containing bodywhen the packet is closed.

These “hinged lid” rigid packets are particularly appreciated by sometypes of smokers thanks to their high level of rigidity, which preventsdamage to the cigarettes even when the packet is subjected to knocks oris kept in a pocket or bag of the consumer.

Changes in the habits of smokers and in regulations have generated aneed to increase the space available to insert messages, drawings orpromotional messages.

Some smokers are conservative creatures of habit and so they lookdiffidently on packets that have shapes and modes of use that aredifferent from traditional rigid packets.

In particular, rigid packets for cigarettes are also known, of the typewith sliding opening, known as “hinged-lid slide-open”, in which thereare two containers or shells, an external shell comprising an externalcontaining body, and an internal shell. The internal shell in turncontains an organized group of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapper or sheet.

The internal shell is housed inside the external containing body, withrespect to which it is configured to slide between a closedconfiguration, in which the internal shell is completely inserted insidethe external containing body, and an open configuration, in which theinternal shell is partly extracted from the external containing body. Inthis type of packet, compared with traditional rigid ones, there is agreater surface available for writings, drawings or promotional messagesin general. Moreover, this type of packet can be used both in a new way,that is, by removing the internal shell, and also in a traditional way,thus keeping both more innovative smokers and conservative smokershappy.

A packet of this type is described for example in WO-A-2007/065514. Thispacket allows to increase the space available for promotional messages,since such messages can be printed both on the external shell and alsoon the internal shell. However, due to its very configuration andconstruction, the packet has to be produced starting from specialblanks, which cannot be processed on normal packaging machines. Thesepackets are therefore difficult to make, because they need specialproduction lines that have a high cost and considerable bulk.

A packet of this type is also described in WO-A-2007/144043, where theexternal containing body of the external shell is provided with anaperture, made in a lower portion of a front wall and in a centralportion of its base wall, so as to allow access to the internal shell,in particular to a base side thereof. Furthermore, in the packetdescribed in WO-A-2007/144043, the lid is connected to the internalshell by a tongue protruding from a front side, facing the front wall ofthe external containing body of the internal shell. In use, a consumerinserts a finger into said aperture and, acting on the base side,thrusts the internal shell toward the outside of the containing body.Following this relative movement, the tongue, connected to the lid,rotates the latter to an open position. After extracting the cigarette,in order to reclose the packet, the consumer thrusts the internal shelltoward the inside of the containing body until the base side abuts onthe base wall. Following this relative movement, the tongue, connectedto the lid, rotates the latter to a closed position. One defect ofpackets of the type described in WO-A-2007/144043 is the small spaceavailable to personalize the packets, for example using writings,drawings or more generally promotional messages printed on the visiblesurfaces of the packet. In fact, such messages can be printed as well ason the external containing body, as already happens in traditionalpackets, only on a limited end portion of one rear side, opposite saidfront side, of the internal shell, protruding, in an open configurationof the packet, from the containing body. However, the transverse lengthof the tongue, connecting the internal shell to the lid, greatly limitsthe end portion of the rear side visible in the open configuration ofthe packet.

In these known solutions, the packet cannot be used in a traditionalway, since the consumer has to use his finger to thrust the internalshell, as discussed above.

Furthermore, in these known solutions and in similar solutions where theinternal shell can be made to slide and partly extracted from theexternal containing body, it is necessary to provide mechanical stops toprevent the accidental complete exit of the internal shell, whichentails further working, modifications to traditional machines and hencean increase in terms of times and costs.

Another known packet is described for example in CN-A-2483353, whichprovides an internal shell that slides to be extracted from an externalcontaining body, by pressure from below through an aperture made on abase wall of the external containing body. This packet cannot be made ontraditional packaging machines either.

It should also be noted that, although packets with a slide-openinternal container are appreciated by young or imaginative smokers, moreconservative smokers have shown a certain aversion for this type ofpacket and for the complicated opening systems that they entail.

In this context, document WO-A-2013/068959 is also known, which providesa hinged-lid slide-open packet similar to those described above, inwhich the internal shell, to which the closing lid is hinged and ofwhich it is part, partly slides outside the external containing bodybetween the closed configuration and the open configuration. Thanks to atongue of the internal shell that connects the lid to the externalcontaining body as well, this allows to “automatically” rotate the lidwhen the internal shell slides with respect to the external containingbody. In this solution too, the base wall of the external containingbody has an aperture through which the consumer can exert a thrust onthe internal shell so as to slide it and partly remove it. In this knownsolution, moreover, the closing lid is configured to be includedcompletely retracted in the external containing body when the packet isin the closed configuration, and is thus completely hidden, flush withthe upper edges of the external containing body. This solution is evenfurther from the characteristics and exterior appearance typical of atraditional cigarette packet, and therefore can represent a solutionthat does not please all smokers, in particular more conservative ones.Furthermore, this configuration of the closing lid requires using aspecific blank, which on the one hand is in itself an additional cost,and on the other hand makes the blank and the packet impossible toprocess on the packaging machines that are normally available tocigarette producers. Moreover, this known packet can suffer from poorresistance and rigidity of the internal shell, in particular when,during use, the number of smoking articles contained therein diminishes.

Furthermore, other known packets are described for example inWO-A-2009/125240 and WO-A-2011/058414, in which the closing lid is partof the external containing body, but can be separated from it to allowthe sliding extraction of the internal shell. When this happens, sinceit is also constrained to the internal container, the closing lid istranslated together with the latter. In this context, documentWO-A-2011/092567 is also known, in which the closing lid is separatedfrom the internal shell and is integrated with the external containingbody, remaining thus even when the internal shell is slidingly removed.Other known packets are described in GB-A-568.649, DE-A-1.285.948 andU.S. Pat. No. 1,902,963.

As we said, it is a strongly felt requirement in this field to providepackets that satisfy all the needs described above, and that can beprocessed on normal packaging machines, without having to use differentor special machines or production lines, or in any case providing onlyminimum adjustments or implementations to traditional known machines.Indeed it is obvious that, for producers, the choice of producingpackets that entail purchasing new and dedicated packaging machinesconstitutes an increase in costs to be sustained.

There is therefore a need to perfect a packet for smoking articles thatcan overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to improvepackets for smoking articles, in particular cigarettes, and the blanksthat can be used to obtain such packets.

Another purpose is to provide rigid packets for smoking articles, inparticular but not exclusively cigarettes, that have a large surfaceavailable for communications to the consumer, advertising messages andsuchlike.

Another purpose is to provide packets for smoking articles, inparticular cigarettes, that can be produced easily even on traditionalpackaging machines.

Another purpose is to provide packets for smoking articles, inparticular cigarettes, that are versatile, so that they can beappreciated both by smokers with conservative tastes and also by smokersthat enjoy innovative configurations.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain theseand other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independentclaim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of theinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

Forms of embodiment described here concern a packet for smoking articlesthat overcomes the limits of the state of the art and eliminates thedefects present therein, and that includes an external shell and aninternal shell to contain smoking articles.

In accordance with the present description, the external shell comprisesan external containing body, a closing lid hinged to the internal shelland a connection tongue, configured to connect the closing lid to theexternal containing body.

Moreover, in accordance with the present description, the internal shellis configured to slide, with respect to the external containing body,between a closed condition, where the internal shell is inserted insidethe external shell, and an open and extraction configuration, where theinternal shell is partly extracted from the external containing body.

Other embodiments refer to a packet for smoking articles comprising:

-   an external shell with an access aperture,-   an internal shell to contain smoking articles provided with a rear    wall comprising one or more upper folding flaps delimited by a    folding line,

wherein the external shell comprises:

an external containing body,

a closing lid hinged to the internal shell by means of a hinge definedby said folding line and able to position itself between an opencondition, in which it allows access to the smoking articles containedin the internal shell, and a closed condition, in which it closes saidaccess aperture of the external shell, said closing lid being providedwith a rear wall,

-   a connection tongue configured to connect the closing lid to the    external containing body, said connection tongue being part of said    rear wall of the closing lid and being delimited laterally by two    incisions, or notches which define one or more smaller lateral    panels of the rear wall of the closing lid, said one or more smaller    lateral panels being attached to said one or more upper folding    flaps and rotatable around said folding line which said hinge    defines,    -   wherein the internal shell is configured to slide, with respect        to the external containing body, between a closed configuration        where the internal shell is completely inserted inside the        external shell and where the closing lid is, in the closed        condition, completely outside both the internal shell and the        external containing body, and an open and extracted        configuration where the internal shell is partly extracted from        the external containing body, wherein, moreover, the external        containing body, the closing lid and the connection tongue which        form the external shell have no other functional apertures to        put said internal shell in said open and extracted        configuration.

Other forms of embodiment concern a single blank to make a packet forsmoking articles according to the present description. The blankcomprises, in a single body, a first portion intended to form anexternal containing body of said packet, and a second portion, intendedto form a closing lid. The second portion comprises a transverse panelintended to form a rear wall of the closing lid, which is provided withtwo notches, or incisions, that create a central panel intended to forma connection tongue to connect the closing lid to the externalcontaining body and one or more lateral panels intended to form one ormore smaller lateral panels of the rear wall of the closing lid in orderto attach the closing lid to the internal shell. According to thepresent invention, the first portion and the second portion are joinedonly by means of the central panel.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be better understood with reference to the followingdescription, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which areintegrated and form part of the present description, show some forms ofembodiment of the present invention, and together with the description,are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the presentdescription can be applied individually where possible. These individualaspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in theattached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered,during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimedand shall be the object of a disclaimer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of forms of embodiment, given asa non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a packet in accordance with formsof embodiment described here, in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a packet in accordance with formsof embodiment described here, in a closed condition;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a packet in accordance with formsof embodiment described here, in an open condition;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a packet in accordance with formsof embodiment described here, in an open condition;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a packet in accordance with formsof embodiment described here, in an open and extracted condition;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a packet in accordance with formsof embodiment described here, in an open and extracted condition;

FIG. 7 is a lateral view of an internal shell for a packet in accordancewith the present description;

FIG. 8 is a view from the rear of an internal shell for a packet inaccordance with the present description;

FIG. 9 is a lateral view of an external shell for a packet in accordancewith the present description;

FIG. 10 is a partly sectioned rear view of a packet according to formsof embodiment described here, in an open and partly extracted condition;

FIG. 11 is a perspective rear view of a packet according to forms ofembodiment described here, in an open and partly extracted condition;

FIG. 12 is a plan view from above of a packet according to forms ofembodiment described here, in an open condition;

FIG. 13 is a perspective rear view of part of a packet according toforms of embodiment described here, in an open and extracted condition;

FIG. 14 is a plan view from above of a blank, in accordance with thepresent description;

FIGS. 15a to 15d show different perspective views of a packet forsmoking articles with the lid open, according to forms of embodimentdescribed here;

FIGS. 16a-16c show different views of a packet according to forms ofembodiment described here with the lid closed;

FIGS. 17a-17c show different views of a packet according to forms ofembodiment described here with the lid open;

FIGS. 18a and 18b show a rear and lateral view respectively of aninternal shell that encloses a wrapper, which will be housed inside apacker according to forms of embodiment described here;

FIG. 19 shows a blank of an internal shell for a packet according toforms of embodiment described here;

FIG. 20 shows a blank of an external shell for a packet according toforms of embodiment described here.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used,where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form ofembodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms ofembodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of thepresent invention, of which one or more examples are shown in theattached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of theinvention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. Forexample, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they arepart of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in associationwith, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment.It is understood that the present invention shall include all suchmodifications and variants.

FIGS. 1-11, 15 a-15 d, 16 a-16 c, 17 a-17 c are used to describe formsof embodiment of a packet 10 for smoking articles, for examplecigarettes, cigars or similar or equivalent, of the type with a hingedlid and sliding aperture (“hinged-lid, slide-open” packet).

In possible implementations, the packet 10 can have a rectangularparallelepiped shape, that extends along a longitudinal axis X. Theedges of the packet 10 can be squared, or rounded or beveled.

In accordance with the present description, the packet 10 is a rigidpacket which includes an internal shell 16 (see FIGS. 7 and 8 forexample) and an external shell 11 (see FIG. 9 for example).

Typically the internal shell 16 can contain a group of organized smokingarticles, generally wrapped in a wrapper 13 (see FIGS. 3, 18 a, 18 b forexample). The wrapper 13 is able to house the group of organized smokingarticles and is conformed to be inserted inside the external shell 11.

The external shell 11 is provided with an access aperture, which istypically delimited by a peripheral edge, or aperture edge. It ispossible to access the smoking articles contained in the internal shell16 through this aperture.

The internal shell 16 can be a collar, in particular a rigid collar. Thecollar can surround the wrapper 13. In particular, as is clear, thecollar can surround the wrapper 13, wrapping it closely, so as to renderthe collar integral with the wrapper 13. Typically the wrapper 13 can beintegrated with the internal shell 16, using adhesive or glue forexample. For example, the union between the collar and the wrapper 13can be obtained using a common adhesive located between the contactwalls respectively of the collar and the internal wrapper. In possibleimplementations, the collar can be open at the top and bottom and canenclose on three sides or on four sides the group of organized smokingarticles, wrapped in the wrapper 13. Furthermore, the collar can be openat the top and closed at the bottom and can therefore enclose on fivesides the group of organized smoking articles, wrapped in the wrapper13.

In accordance with the present description, the external shell 11includes an external containing body 14. The external containing body 14has said access aperture delimited by a peripheral edge. Moreover, inaccordance with the present description, the external shell 11 includesa closing lid 12 and a connection tongue 20, configured to connect theclosing lid 12 to the external containing body 14. In particular, theconnection tongue 20 can be provided with a proximal connection end 20 aconnected to the closing lid 12. For example, the proximal connectionend 20 a can be connected to an edge of the closing lid 12. Moreover,the connection tongue 20 can be provided with a distal connection end 20b connected to the external connection body 14, in particular to saidperipheral edge that delimits the access aperture of the external shell11 (see FIGS. 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15 c, 15 d, 16 c, 17 b, 17 c forexample).

In possible implementations, the closing lid 12 is connected to theexternal closing body 14 by means of the connection tongue 20, that canbe configured to define a double-jointed articulated connection of theclosing lid 12 to the external connection body 14, see FIGS. 6, 9 and 11for example.

The closing lid 12 is hinged to the internal shell 16, and is thus ableto rotate around a hinge or hinging line 15 (see FIGS. 2, 7, 8, 10, 11,12, 13, 15 a, 15 c, 15 d, 16 c for example). The hinge or hinging line15 can be provided on the internal shell 16.

In particular, the hinge 15 by means of which the closing lid 12 ishinged to the internal shell 16 defines a lid hinging axis Y aroundwhich the closing lid 12 can rotate.

This rotatable configuration around the hinge 15 allows to rotate theclosing lid 12 between a closed condition (see FIGS. 1 and 2 forexample) and an open condition (see FIGS. 3, 4, 15 a-15 d, 17 b forexample), in order to respectively close the access aperture and preventaccess to the smoking articles contained in the internal shell 16 or toallow access to the smoking articles. In the closed condition, theclosing lid 12 can typically abut against the peripheral edge thatdelimits the access aperture of the external shell 11, in particular ofthe external containing body 14. Moreover, in the closed condition ofthe closing lid 12, the internal shell 16 together with the wrapper 13are housed completely inside the external shell 11.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment described here, theexternal containing body 14, the closing lid 12 and the connectiontongue 20 that form the external shell 11 can constitute a single bodyin continuous material from which they are made, and are thereforeobtained from a single blank 80, suitably shaped and folded, asexplained in detail hereafter (see FIGS. 14 and 20 for example).

Moreover, in accordance with the present description, the internal shell16 is configured to slide, with respect to the external containing body14, between a closed configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 2 for example), inwhich the internal shell 16 is completely inserted inside the externalshell 11, and an open and extracted configuration (see FIGS. 5, 6, 15a-15 d, 17 a-17 c for example), in which the internal shell 16 is partlyextracted from the external shell 11, in particular from the externalcontaining body 14. In other words, the packet 10 that includes theinternal shell 16 that slides with respect to the external shell 11 isthe “slide-open” type.

Moreover, the fact that the closing lid 12 is connected to the internalshell 16 by the hinge 15, as described above, prevents the internalshell 16 from being accidentally extracted completely from the externalshell 11, in particular from the external containing body 14.Consequently, in possible implementations, the hinge 15 acts as astopping or holding element to prevent the internal shell 16 fromexiting completely from the external shell 11. In this way, it is notnecessary to provide additional stopping and holding elements, thusavoiding further work that would increase times, complexity and costs ofproduction.

In some forms of embodiment, the hinge or hinging line 15 can be incorrespondence to the distal connection end 20 b of the connectiontongue 20 when the closing lid 12 is in its closed condition (see FIG. 2for example).

Moreover, in some forms of embodiment, the hinge or hinging line 15 cansurpass the proximal connection end 20 a of the connection tongue 20,thus distancing itself from the distal connection end 20 b of theconnection tongue 20, when the closing lid 12 is in its open condition(see FIGS. 15c, 15d for example). Advantageously, therefore, the wrapper13 together with the internal shell 16 can be driven slidingly insidethe external containing body 14 operating directly on the closing lid12. Functional apertures are thus not needed on the external shell 11,in particular on the external containing body 14, or on the closing lid12 or on the connection tongue 20, in order to actuate this slidingextraction movement.

In practice, when the user opens the closing lid 12 in order to accessthe group of smoking articles, with a simple pulling operation he/shecan also lift the internal shell 16, to which the closing lid 12 ishinged, together with the wrapper 13, so as to make visible the externalwalls of the internal shell 16 that protrude with respect to theperipheral edge that defines the access aperture of the external shell11. The presence of the connection tongue 20 is functional to preventthe wrapper 13, wrapped by the internal shell 16, from exitingcompletely from the external containing body 14. In other words, theconnection tongue 20 has an end-of-travel function for the sliding ofthe wrapper 13 wrapped by the internal shell 16 with respect to theexternal containing body 14. In this way the separation of the wrapper13 wrapped by the internal shell 16 and the external containing body 14is prevented.

Therefore, in accordance with the present description, the externalshell 11, and in particular the external containing body 14, the closinglid 12 and the connection tongue 20 that form the external shell 11, hasno other functional apertures, fissures, windows or other similarpassages which can be used by a consumer to push the internal shell 16to extract it from the external shell 11; that is, they have no otherfunctional apertures able to put the internal shell 16 in the open andextracted configuration. Indeed, to this purpose, as we said, it isenough to operate a traction on the closing lid 12, that is alwayslocated outside the packet 10 and therefore easily accessible, rotatingit around the hinge 15, which closing lid 12 therefore pulls with it, tothe outside, the internal shell 16 to which it is connected, extractingit as desired.

In this way, in particular in the closed configuration (FIGS. 1 and 2)or in the configuration where the closing lid 12 is open but theinternal shell 16 is not extracted (FIGS. 3 and 4), the external shell11 has an aesthetic conformation which is totally traditional andacceptable even to conservative smokers, but at the same time it can beconverted into a more modern and original packet, and therefore usedwith satisfaction even by innovative smokers, thanks to its “slide-open”configuration.

In accordance with forms of embodiment described here using FIGS. 18aand 18 b, and combinable with all the forms of embodiment describedhere, the wrapper 13 that wraps the group of smoking articles cancomprise a base wall 131, from which a front wall 132 and a rear wall133, opposite the front wall 132, develop. Between the front wall 132and the rear wall 133 two lateral walls 134 are interposed, which jointhe front wall 132 and the rear wall 133.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment, described using FIGS.7, 8, 17 a, 17 b, 18 a, 18 b for example, and combinable with all theforms of embodiment described here, the internal shell 16 can be aparallelepiped shape with a rectangular cross section, shaped as a cupfor example, and can include a front wall 32, a rear wall 34, twoparallel lateral walls 38 and can have at the upper part an openingupper end 40. The internal shell 16 can be open at the lower part, or beclosed and therefore have a base wall 36. If the internal shell 16 has abase wall 36, this can therefore be conformed as a cup.

Therefore, with regard to with the internal shell 16, four longitudinaledges can be defined between the front wall 32, rear wall 34, andlateral walls 38, and four lower transverse edges between front wall 32,rear wall 34, lateral walls 38 and the base wall 36.

In possible implementations, the internal shell 16 can also have aremoval window 39 (see FIGS. 3 and 5 for example) through which thesmoking articles are removed. The removal window 39 can facilitate, forexample, at least initially, the removal of the smoking articles by theconsumer. The removal window 39 can be provided as a shaped aperture, ofan essentially concave shape, typically with an open profile, in theupper part of the front wall 32. The removal window 39 can be defined,for example, by an upper cut on the internal shell 16, to facilitateaccess to the smoking articles contained in the wrapper 13. The uppercut can be U-shaped and protrude from the peripheral edge of the accessaperture of the external containing body 14 even when the internal shell16 together with the wrapper 13 are entirely housed in the externalcontaining body 14. By the expression “entirely housed” we mean when theclosing lid 12 is in the closed condition and generally the base wall131 of the wrapper 13, enclosed by the internal shell 16, contacts abase wall 46 of the external containing body 14, or the base wall 36 ofthe internal shell 16, if provided, contacts the base wall 46 of theexternal containing body 14.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment described using FIG. 9for example, and combinable with all the forms of embodiment describedhere, the external containing body 14 can be essentially of aparallelepiped shape with rectangular cross section, shaped like a cupfor example, and can include a front wall 42, a rear wall 44, said basewall 46, two parallel lateral walls 48. The front wall 42 can have asmaller extension than the rear wall 44. The distal connection end 20 bof the connection tongue 20 can be attached to the rear wall 44 of theexternal containing body 14. Moreover the connection tongue 20 can bepositioned essentially centrally between the lateral walls 48 of theexternal containing body 14. The external containing body 14 can alsohave an opening upper end 50, in this case delimited by a peripheraledge 49 (see FIGS. 3 and 5 for example). The opening upper end 50delimited by the peripheral edge 49 defines the access aperture of theexternal shell 11. In the closed condition, the closing lid 12 cantherefore abut against the peripheral edge 49 of the external containingbody 14. Moreover, the base wall 46 of the external containing body 14defines a base wall of the external shell 11.

Therefore, with regard to the external containing body 14, fourlongitudinal edges can be defined between front wall 42, rear wall 44and lateral walls 48, and four lower transverse edges between front wall42, rear wall 44, lateral walls 48 and base wall 46.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment, with reference to FIG.9 for example, the closing lid 12 can be cup shaped, and can include anupper wall 51, that in the closed condition is parallel to the base wall46 of the external containing body 14, a front wall 52, a rear wall 54,connected to the rear wall 34 of the internal shell 16, two parallellateral walls 58, and an opening lower end 60, that can be delimited bya peripheral edge 61. The upper wall 51 of the closing lid 12 defines anupper wall of the external shell 11. The front wall 52 of the closinglid 12 can have a longer extension than the rear wall 54 of the closinglid 12. The longer extension can be equal to the difference between theextension of the rear wall 44 of the external containing body 14 and thefront wall 42 of the external containing body 14. Moreover, it can beprovided that the proximal connection end 20 a of the connection tongue20 is attached to an edge that divides the upper wall 51 of the closinglid 12 from the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12.

In particular the closing lid 12 can be a box-like lid, that is, it caninclude walls 52, 58, 54 that are perpendicular one consecutively to theother, that is, wall 52 is orthogonal to wall 58, which in its turn isorthogonal to wall 54, consequently parallel to wall 52, so as to give abox-like shape to the closing lid 12.

According to forms of embodiment described here, the front wall 42 ofthe external containing body 14 and the front wall 52 of the closing lid12 form overall a front wall 62 of the external shell 11 (see FIG. 1 forexample).

In accordance with the present description, and with reference to thefront wall 42 and the front wall 62, by the term “front” we mean theside from which normally the smoking articles are extracted by theconsumer, for example through the removal window 39, and thereforeopposite the side toward which the closing lid 12 rotates when it isopened.

According to forms of embodiment described here, the rear wall 44 of theexternal containing body 14 and the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12form overall a rear wall 64 of the external shell 11 (see FIG. 2 forexample).

According to other forms of embodiment described here, the lateral walls48 of the external containing body 14 and the lateral walls 58 of theclosing lid 12 can be at least double, that is, each comprising anexternal portion and an internal portion, as also described hereafter.

According to other forms of embodiment described here, the lateral walls48 of the external containing body 14 and the lateral walls 58 of theclosing lid 12 form overall lateral walls 68 of the external shell 11(see FIGS. 1 and 2 for example).

In particular, the lateral walls 48 of the external containing body 14can each have an upper edge 43, that can be part of said peripheral edge49 that delimits the opening upper end 50. Similarly, the lateral walls58 of the closing lid 12 can each have a lower edge 53, that can be partof said peripheral edge 61 that delimits the opening lower end 60 (seefor example FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9). In the closed condition of theclosing lid 12, in which the lateral walls 68 are defined overall, theupper 43 and lower 53 edges meet, that is, they are essentially paralleland adjacent with respect to each other (see FIGS. 1 and 2 for example).

In possible forms of embodiment, see FIGS. 1-6, 9 and 11 for example,combinable with all the forms of embodiment described here, the upperedge 43, like the lower edge 53, can be transverse and inclined withrespect to the base wall 46 of the external containing body 14.

The inclinations of the upper edge 43 and the lower edge 53 can becoordinated with each other, for example they can both be inclineddownward toward the respective front walls 42 and 52, so as to meet inthe closed condition of the closing lid 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 forexample).

The inclination of the upper edge 43 and the lower edge 53 can be chosenfor example in an interval between 15° and 60°, in particular between20° and 45°, more in particular between 25° and 35°. Possibleinclination values of the upper edge 43 and the lower edge 53 can be forexample 29°, 30°, 31°, 32°, 33°, 34°.

In other possible implementations, the upper edge 43, like the loweredge 53, can instead be parallel to the base wall 46 of the externalcontaining body 14.

In accordance with the present description, the closing lid 12 can beconfigured so that, in its open condition (FIGS. 3 and 4), it allows thepassage of the internal shell 16 from the closed configuration to theopen configuration, since it can be rotated into a position where itdoes not interfere with the sliding of the internal shell 16.

The closing lid 12 can rotate to close and open the opening upper end 40of the internal shell 16, from which the smoking articles are removed,and also the opening upper end 50 of the external containing body 14,through which the internal shell 16 is slidingly extracted and inserted.

According to the present description, the closing lid 12 is configuredto be completely outside the internal shell 16, both in the closed andthe open condition (see respectively FIGS. 1, 2 and FIGS. 3, 4).

In particular the closing lid 12 has the front wall 52 and the rear wall54 external to the corresponding front wall 32 and rear wall 34 of theinternal shell 16, just as the lateral walls 58 are disposed externallywith respect to corresponding lateral walls 38 of the internal shell 16.To this end, the width and length of the closing lid 12 are greater thanthe width and length of the internal shell 16.

Furthermore, the closing lid 12 is configured to be completely outsidethe external containing body 14 as well, both in the closedconfiguration (FIGS. 1 and 2), and in the open configuration (FIGS. 3and 4), just as in the open and extracted configuration (FIGS. 5, 6, 15a-15 d, 17 a-17 c) of the internal shell 16 and in the intermediatepassage configurations between one or the other of said configurations(see FIG. 11 for example).

To this end, the width and length of the closing lid 12 are essentiallyequal to the width and length of the external shell 11.

Consequently, in the closed condition of the closing lid 12, which alsodefines the closed configuration of the packet 10, (FIGS. 1 and 2), thefront wall 52, the rear wall 54 and the lateral walls 58 of the closinglid 12 are coplanar to the corresponding front wall 42, rear wall 44 andlateral walls 48 of the external containing body 14 of the externalshell 11. In this way, when it is closed, the closing lid 12 goes intoabutment, for example with its peripheral edge 61, against the externalcontaining body 14, in particular against the peripheral edge 49 thatdelimits the opening upper end 50, and is not therefore inserted intothe external containing body 14.

The passage from the closed configuration to the open and extractedconfiguration is possible by positioning the closing lid 12preliminarily in its open condition, so that the opening upper end 50 ofthe external containing body 14 is opened to allow the extraction of theinternal shell 16. The sliding of the latter automatically causes therotation of the closing lid 12 as well, thanks to the provision of theconnection tongue 20, as described above. Indeed, after the closing lid12 has been opened, it is possible to rotate it automatically, makingthe internal shell 16 slide with respect to the external containing body14, since the closing lid 12 is also connected to the externalcontaining body 14 by means of the connection tongue 20.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment, the connection tongue20 can be connected both to an external upper edge 45 of the rear wall44 of the external containing body 14, and also to a closing upper edge55 of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12. In particular theconnection tongue 20 can be connected to the upper edge 45 and to theupper edge 55 by means of respective transverse folding lines 84,described in detail hereafter, so as to essentially make saiddouble-jointed articulated connection between closing lid 12 andexternal containing body 14.

Moreover, in accordance with possible forms of embodiment, theconnection tongue 20 can be part of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid12, from which it can be made and separated by two parallel notches, orincisions 57, made in an intermediate position, which thus define twosmaller lateral panels 59 of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12, onone side and the other of the connection tongue 20 that is thus created(see FIGS. 2 and 11). Therefore, the connection tongue 20 can be madethrough these two parallel notches 57, made on the rear wall 54 of theclosing lid 12. The portion of rear wall 54 between the two notches 57that forms the connection tongue 20 is not glued to the internal shell16, while the portions of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12 locatedat the sides of the notches 57, that is, at the sides of the connectiontongue 20, are instead glued to the internal shell 16.

In accordance with some forms of embodiment of the present description,the connection tongue 20 can therefore have a transverse width smallerthan the transverse width of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12, andtherefore also smaller than the length of the hinge 15. For example, theconnection tongue 20 can be provided in a central position with respectto the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12, and so the smaller lateralpanels 59 of the rear wall 54 are positioned symmetrically with respectto the connection tongue 20.

In accordance with forms of embodiment described here, the connectiontongue 20 can have a length or height equal to the height of the rearwall 54 of the closing lid 12.

More specifically, the proximal connection end 20 a of the connectiontongue 20 is attached to the closing lid 12 in a portion of the edge ofthe upper wall 51, more precisely along the edge that divides the upperwall 51 of the closing lid 12 from the rear wall 54 of the closing lid12. The distal connection end 20 b of the connection tongue 20 isattached to the peripheral edge that defines the access aperture of theexternal containing body 14. In practice, the connection tongue 20 isattached to the closing lid 12 and to the external containing body 14,while the closing lid 12 is hinged to the internal shell 16. The slidingtravel that the internal shell 16 and the wrapper 13 are able to make istherefore equal to the length of the connection tongue 20 plus theheight of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12, that is, equal totwice the height of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12. This limitedsliding is sufficient to remove the internal shell 16, together with thewrapper 13, from the external containing body 14, so as to make visiblethe information possibly printed thereon.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment, the rear wall 34 of theinternal shell 16 can be provided with at least an upper folding flap ortab 34′, rotatable around a folding line 34″ (see FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 18a for example) and obtained, for example, by means of laterallongitudinal notches or incisions 34″.

The upper folding flap or tab 34′ can be attached to said rear wall 54of the closing lid 12.

The upper folding flap 34′ can therefore be moved away from and toward alying plane of the rear wall 34 of the internal shell 16.

The upper folding flap 34′ can, for example, be rotated toward theoutside of the internal shell 16.

In accordance with the present description, the upper folding flap 34′can therefore define the hinge 15 that connects the closing lid 12rotatably to the internal shell 16 (see FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 for example),in this way allowing both the rotation of the closing lid 12 and alsopreventing the internal shell 16 from completely exiting from theexternal containing body 14. Therefore the one or more upper foldingflaps 34′, and the hinge 15 thus defined, can act as a stopping orholding element to prevent a complete and excessive sliding of theinternal shell 16, beyond a partly extracted condition.

Moreover, by also providing a central notch 34″″ essentially parallel tothe lateral longitudinal notches or incisions 34″, it is possible tomake two adjacent upper folding flaps 34′, each rotatable as describedabove, autonomously one from the other (see FIG. 13 for example), whichcan therefore carry out the same functions as a single upper foldingflap 34′. Therefore, the upper folding flap 34′ can be in a singlepiece, or it can be formed by two parts, attached to the closing lid 12,glued for example.

Consequently, the closing lid 12 can be rotatably connected to the rearwall 34 of the internal shell 16 by connection to one or more upperfolding flaps 34′, for example by gluing an internal surface of the rearwall 54 of the closing lid 12 to the upper folding flap 34′ of the rearwall 34, thus obtaining, as we said, the hinge 15. Alternatively, it canbe glued to the two upper folding flaps 34′, if provided, of theinternal shell 16 (see FIG. 13). In particular, it is possible to insertthe upper folding flap/flaps 34′ through the opening lower end 60 of theclosing lid 12 and glue it/them to the internal surface of the rear wall54.

The width of the upper folding flap/flaps 34′, and possibly of the hinge15 defined thereby, can therefore correspond to the width of the rearwall 54 of the closing lid 12.

In particular, the folding line 34′″ along which the upper foldingflap/flaps 34′ can be folded can define said hinge 15, and thecorresponding lid hinging axis Y, around which the closing lid 12 canrotate. The folding line 34′″ can be in correspondence with the hinge 15and located perpendicularly to the lateral longitudinal notches orincisions 34″, thus forming said upper folding flap 34′. Therefore, thelateral longitudinal notches or incisions 34″ and the folding line 34′″provided on the rear wall 34 allow the closing lid 12 to rotate aroundthe hinge 15.

Moreover, the overall width of the upper folding flap/flaps 34′, equalto the width of the rear wall 54, can also correspond, as we said, tothe length of the hinge 15.

The closing lid 12 can be attached to the internal shell 16 by gluingthe internal face of the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12 to the upperfolding flap 34′ of the internal shell 16.

In this way the upper folding flap 34′ of the rear wall 34 of theinternal shell 16, where the closing lid 12 is glued, can bend along thefolding line 34′″, when the closing lid 12 is rotated around the hinge15. In practice, the folding line 34′″ coincides with the hinge 15.

When the closing lid 12 is in the closed condition, it forms arectangular parallelepiped with the external containing body 14. Inparticular the front wall 52, the rear wall 54 and the two lateral walls58 of the closing lid 12 are contiguous with the front wall 62, the rearwall 64 and the two lateral walls 68 of the external containing body 14respectively.

In accordance with possible forms of embodiment, the internal shell 16can be provided with protruding holding fins, or claws 17, configured tointerfere with the closing lid 12, so as to interfere with the internalsurface of the lateral walls 58 of the closing lid 12, and thus stablyhold the closing lid 12 in its closed condition. The consumer, applyingan upward traction force or a downward thrust force on the closing lid12, can on each occasion easily overcome the resistance of the holdingwings 17, to open and close the closing lid 12.

The holding fins 17 can be provided in a lateral position for example.For example, a pair of holding fins 17 can be provided which can be putat the sides of the removal window 39 and positioned so as to interferewith the closing lid 12 when the latter is in the closed condition, inabutment with the peripheral edge, so as to guarantee a more stableclosure. For example, the holding fins 17 can be provided alonglongitudinal edges defined between the lateral walls 38 and the frontwall 32, typically in an upper position, in substantial correspondenceto the opening upper end 40 of the internal shell 16, for example nearthe removal window 39. The holding fins 17 can be made, for example, bymeans of incisions or notches, 18 which, when the lateral walls 38 andthe front wall 32 of the internal shell 16 are folded to form theinternal shell 16, determine the exit of a flap, or tongue, of materialof the internal shell 16, that defines the holding fins 17. Generally,to obtain the protruding effect of the holding fins 17, the incisions ornotches 18 can be made slightly curvilinear, or in any case notcompletely parallel to the longitudinal edges between the lateral walls38 and the front wall 32.

FIGS. 14 and 20 are used to describe forms of embodiment of a singleblank 80 from which it is possible to produce an external shell 11 inaccordance with the present description.

In accordance with some forms of embodiment, the single blank 80 caninclude a first portion 80 a, intended to form the external containingbody 14, and a second portion 80 b, intended to form the closing lid 12.The second portion 80 b can include a transverse panel 54′ intended toform the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12. The transverse panel 54′can have two longitudinal notches or incisions 57′, corresponding to thenotches or incisions 57, that create a central panel 20′ intended toform the connection tongue 20. The first portion 80 a and the secondportion 80 b of the blank 80 are joined together by means of the centralpanel 20′ alone.

The single blank 80 can include a plurality of elements that aredescribed using, where possible, the same reference numbers, withapostrophe(s), of the corresponding walls of the external shell 11.

With reference, for example, to FIGS. 14 and 20, the blank 80 can beprovided with two longitudinal folding lines 82 and with a plurality oftransverse folding lines 84, which define, between the longitudinalfolding lines 82, a panel 42′ that forms the front wall 42 of theexternal containing body 14; a panel 44′ that forms the rear wall 44 ofthe external containing body 14; a panel 46′ that forms the base wall 46of the external containing body 14; a panel 51′ that forms the upperwall 51 of the closing lid 12; a panel 52′ that forms the front wall 52of the closing lid 12; a transverse panel 54′ that forms the rear wall54 of the closing lid 12; a reinforcement panel 52″ that is folded at180° and glued to the panel 52′; reinforcement panels 51″ that arefolded at 180° , rotated toward the inside and glued to the panel 51′.

The panel 42′ can be provided with two lateral wings 48′, that formrespective external portions 48 a of the lateral walls 48 of theexternal containing body 14 (FIG. 12), disposed on opposite sides of thepanel 42′, connected to the panel 42′ by the longitudinal folding lines82.

The panel 44′ can be provided with two lateral wings 48″, that formrespective internal portions 48 b of the lateral walls 48 of theexternal containing body 14 (FIG. 12), disposed on opposite sides of thepanel 44′, connected to the panel 44′ by the longitudinal folding lines82.

The panel 46′ is disposed between the panel 44′ and the panel 42′. Thepanel 46′ can be provided with two lateral reinforcement wings 46″, thatare folded at 180° , rotated toward the inside and glued to the panel46′, disposed on opposite sides of the panel 46′, connected to thelateral wings 48″ by transverse folding lines 84 and separated from thepanel 46′ and from the lateral wings 48′ by means of respectiveincisions or notches 46″ and 46″.

The panel 52′ can be provided with two lateral wings 58′, that formrespective external portions 58 a of the lateral walls 58 of the closinglid 12 (FIG. 13), disposed on opposite sides of the panel 52′, connectedto the panel 52′ by the longitudinal folding lines 82. The lateral wings58′ can have a trapezoidal shape for example.

The transverse panel 54′ can have two pairs of notches or incisions,including said two longitudinal notches or incisions 57′ and twotransverse notches or incisions 57″ that form both the central panel20′, that defines the connection tongue 20, and two lateral panels 59′,that define the smaller lateral panels 59. Each pair of notches orincisions 57′, 57″ provide a longitudinal notch 57′ and a transversenotch 57″, respectively parallel or aligned to the longitudinal foldinglines 82 and to the transverse folding lines 84. Typically, thelongitudinal notch 57′ and the transverse notch 57″ are reciprocallydisposed essentially at 90°, with an “L” conformation, and each pair ofnotches 57′, 57″ can be symmetrical to the other with respect to thecentral panel 20′. The central panel 20′ is connected to the panel 51′and to the panel 44′ by means of transverse folding lines 84 and isseparated from the lateral panels 59′ by means of the longitudinalnotches 57′. Moreover, the lateral panels 59′ are connected to the panel51′ by means of transverse folding lines 84 and are separated from thepanel 44′ by means of the transverse notches 57″.

The transverse panel 54′ can also be provided with two lateral wings58″, that form respective internal portions 58 b of the lateral walls 58of the closing lid 12 (FIG. 13), disposed on opposite sides of thetransverse panel 54′. The lateral wings 58″ and the reinforcement panels51″, glued, after suitable folding, respectively to the two lateralwings 58′ and the panel 51′, allow to reinforce the lateral walls 58 andthe upper wall 52 of the closing lid 12.

The lateral wings 58″ are connected to the transverse panel 54′ by thelongitudinal folding lines 82 and are separated, or able to beseparated, from the lateral wings 48″ by incisions, or notches, orbreaking lines 48″. The incisions, or notches or breaking lines 48″ candefine said upper edges 43 of the lateral walls 48 of the externalcontaining body 14, and can possibly be made inclined, to provide aninclination to said upper edges 43. Consequently, the incisions, ornotches, or breaking lines 48′″, together with the longitudinal notchesor incisions 57′ and transverse notches or incisions 57″ can be providedto separate the first portion 80 a of the blank 80 from the secondportion 80 b of the blank 80 which, as we said, can remain joined onlyby means of the central panel 20′ that creates said connection tongue20.

The reinforcement panels 51″ can be connected to the lateral wings 58″by transverse folding lines 84 and separated from the lateral wings 58′and the panel 51′ by respective incisions or notches 51′″ and 51″″.

The transverse panel 54′ intended to form the rear wall 54 of theclosing lid 12 has the two longitudinal notches 57′ that create theconnection tongue 20. Therefore, the second portion 80 b intended tobecome the closing lid 12 and the first portion 80 a intended to becomethe external containing body 14 are separated along incisions or notchesor breaking lines 48′″ until arriving at the longitudinal notches 57′.In practice, the portion central to the longitudinal notches 57′ made onthe transverse panel 54′, intended to form the rear wall 54 of theclosing lid 12, is not detached, leaving in that zone, where theconnection tongue 20 is created, the link between the first portion 80 aand the second portion 80 b. The portion of rear wall 54 of the closinglid 12 that forms the connection tongue 20, as we said before, will notbe glued, while the portions of the transverse panel 54′ at the sides ofthe connection tongue 20 will be glued to the two portions that form theupper folding flap 34′ of the internal shell 16.

In possible implementations, the folding lines 34′″, 82, 84 according tothe present description can be made for example by pre-creasing therelatively rigid material that makes up the external shell 11 and theinternal shell 16. For example, blind or continuous pre-creasingoperations can be provided, or through pre-creasing or in segments.According to the present description, by blind pre-creasing we mean ashaping made with a deformation by crushing the thickness of thematerial, and by through pre-creasing we mean a shaping in which atleast one cut segment is provided passing through the thickness of thematerial.

In possible implementations, the notches or incisions 18, 34″, 34″″,46′″, 46″″, 48′″, 51′″, 51″″, 57′, 57″ can be made for example bydinking or cutting the relatively rigid material that makes up theexternal shell 11 and the internal shell 16.

It is therefore clear from the above that, from a single blank 80 theexternal shell 11 can be made, including the closing lid 12, theexternal containing body 14 and the connection tongue 20.

It is also obvious that the single blank 80 from which, in a singlebody, the closing lid 12, the external containing body 14 and theconnection tongue 20 are made, is a blank that can be processed withoutdifficulty to produce rigid packets of the hinged-lid, slide-open typein conventional packaging machines, without requiring substantialmodifications or adaptations thereof, with the additional provision ofmaking the longitudinal notches 57′ and the transverse notches 57″ asabove, to define the central panel 20′ and hence the correspondingconnection tongue 20 of the final external shell 11.

For example, the blank 80 according to the present description anddescribed using FIGS. 14 and 20 can be made of a relatively rigid sheetmaterial, such as cardboard, paper or suchlike.

FIG. 19 is used to describe forms of embodiment of a single blank 90usable to make the internal shell 16 that is folded around the wrapper13. The blank 90 comprises: a main panel 32′ that constitutes the frontwall 32 of the internal shell 16; two panels 38′ that constitute thelateral walls 38 of the internal shell 16, are disposed on oppositesides of the main panel 32′, and are divided from the main panel 32′ bytwo longitudinal lines of weakening 301; and two panels 234 thattogether constitute the rear wall 34 of the internal shell 16, aredisposed at the sides of the two panels 38′ and are divided from thepanels 38′ by a respective longitudinal line of weakening 302. Thelateral longitudinal notches or incisions 34″ are made along thelongitudinal lines of weakening 302 that divide the panels 234, thatform the rear wall 34 of the internal shell 16, from the adjacent panels38′ that form the lateral walls 38 of the internal shell 16. In the sameway, the folding line 34′″ is made on the panels 234 so as to form theupper folding flap 34′ divided into two portions, one for each panel234, which will then be glued to the rear wall 54 of the closing lid 12.The main panel 32′ has the removal window 39, for example defined by aU-shaped cut. The blank 90 is folded around the wrapper 13 and attachedto it.

Furthermore, it is obvious that the packet 10 according to the presentdescription can be attractive both for conservative smokers, in that itcan be used as a traditional packet when put in the open configuration(FIGS. 3 and 4), and also for innovative smokers, when put in the openand extracted configuration (FIGS. 5 and 6).

Furthermore, the internal 11 and external shells 16 used are easilyprocessed by traditional packaging machines.

Moreover, since the internal shell 16 is essentially comparable to thatof traditional packets, except for the possible inclusion of the upperfolding flap 34 as above, it is quite evident that the same internalshell 16 maintains its characteristics of resistance and rigidity thatmake traditional packets appreciated by many smokers.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made tothe packet 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the fieldand scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been describedwith reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the artshall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of packet10, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence allcoming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Although the above refers to forms of embodiment of the invention, otherforms of embodiment can be provided without departing from the mainfield of protection, which is defined by the following claims.

1. Packet for smoking articles, comprising: an external shell with anaccess aperture, an internal shell to contain smoking articles providedwith a rear wall comprising one or more upper folding flaps delimited bya folding line, wherein the external shell comprises: an externalcontaining body, a closing lid hinged to the internal shell by means ofa hinge defined by said folding line and able to position itself betweenan open condition in which it allows access to the smoking articlescontained in the internal shell, and a closed condition, in which itcloses said access aperture of the external shell, said closing lidbeing provided with a rear wall, a connection tongue configured toconnect the closing lid to the external containing body, said connectiontongue being part of said rear wall of the closing lid and beingdelimited laterally by two incisions, or notches which define one ormore smaller lateral panels of the rear wall of the closing lid, saidone or more smaller lateral panels being attached to said one or moreupper folding flaps and rotatable around said folding line which saidhinge defines, wherein the internal shell is configured to slide, withrespect to the external containing body, between a closed configuration,where the internal shell is completely inserted inside the externalshell and where the closing lid is, in its closed condition, completelyoutside both the internal shell and the external containing body, and anopen and extracted configuration where the internal shell is partlyextracted from the external containing body, wherein, moreover, theexternal containing body, the closing lid and the connection tonguewhich form the external shell have no other functional apertures to putsaid internal shell in said open and extracted configuration.
 2. Packetfor smoking articles as in claim 1, wherein the connection tongue isconfigured to define a double-jointed articulated connection of theclosing lid to the external containing body.
 3. Packet for smokingarticles as in claim 1, wherein the external containing body, theclosing lid and the connection tongue which form the external shellconstitute a single body obtained from a single blank.
 4. Packet forsmoking articles as in claim 1, wherein a hinge is provided on theinternal shell in order to hinge the closing lid to the internal shell.5. Packet for smoking articles as in claim 1, wherein a front wall, saidrear wall and lateral walls of the closing lid are provided, which areoutside to corresponding front wall, rear wall and lateral walls of theinternal shell.
 6. Packet for smoking articles as in claim 5, whereinthe front wall, the rear wall and the lateral walls of the closing lidare coplanar to the corresponding front wall, rear wall and lateralwalls of the external containing body, in a closed condition of theclosing lid.
 7. Packet for smoking articles as in claim 6, wherein thelateral walls of the external containing body have inclined upper edgesand the lateral walls of the closing lid have inclined lower edges,mating with said upper edges.
 8. Packet for smoking articles as in claim5, wherein said connection tongue is part of the rear wall of theclosing lid .
 9. Packet for smoking articles as in claim 5, wherein saidconnection tongue has a transverse length shorter than the transverselength of the rear wall of the closing lid.
 10. Packet for smokingarticles wherein a hinge is provided on the internal shell in order tohinge the closing lid to the internal shell, and in claim 5, wherein thelength of the hinge corresponds to the width of the rear wall of theclosing lid.
 11. Packet for smoking articles as in claim 1, wherein saidone or more upper folding flaps are connected to the closing lid, in itsturn connected to the external containing body by means of saidconnection tongue, acting as stopping elements to prevent a completeextraction of the internal shell from the external containing body. 12.Single blank to make a packet for smoking articles as in claim 1, saidblank comprising, in a single body, a first portion intended to form anexternal containing body of said packet, and a second portion, intendedto form a closing lid, said second portion comprising a transverse panelintended to form a rear wall of the closing lid, which is provided withtwo notches, or incisions, that create a central panel intended to forma connection tongue to connect the closing lid to the externalcontaining body and one or more lateral panels intended to form one ormore smaller lateral panels of the rear wall of the closing lid in orderto attach the closing lid to the internal shell, wherein said firstportion and said second portion are joined only by means of said centralpanel.